Personal choice is a nuanced concept - Lessons learned from the gambling field. •

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Technology Ethics
• Risk Management

Background:

• Emerging technologies present potential harms that necessitate proactive mitigation strategies.
• Current frameworks for managing technological risks may not adequately address public health concerns.
• Stakeholder collaboration is proposed as a method to minimize harm from new technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose enhancements to a framework for minimizing harm from emerging technologies.
• To emphasize the integration of public health considerations into technology development discussions.
• To advocate for greater transparency and equity in stakeholder engagement.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of existing harm minimization frameworks.
• Application of the World Health Organization's precautionary principle.
• Identification of key factors for equitable stakeholder collaboration.

Main Results:

• Adopting the WHO precautionary principle is recommended to center public health in technology discussions.
• Acknowledging and transparently addressing stakeholder priority differences is vital.
• Recognizing power differentials and institutional duty of care enhances ethical technology governance.

Conclusions:

• Frameworks for emerging technologies must integrate public health safeguards.
• Transparent stakeholder engagement, addressing power imbalances, is essential for responsible innovation.
• The WHO precautionary principle offers a robust foundation for ethical technology development.